NFL Week 15 Picks: Predicting the Winner and Score for All Upcoming Matchups

The race to the playoffs continue, as multiple NFL teams have a chance to clinch a playoff berth with wins (with some also requiring other teams' losses) in Week 15. 

Ahead of the crucial slate of games to come, we're breaking down the predicted winners for each Week 15 matchup as well as predicting the score for each game. Then we'll break down which three teams are projected to be the highest scorers in their upcoming clashes—and it's not the usual suspects like the New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers or Arizona Cardinals. 

Keep reading for a full breakdown on everything you need to know about Week 15 NFL matchups. 

Away	Home	Pick	Spread	Score
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	St. Louis Rams	Buccaneers	Ev	17-14, TB
New York Jets	Dallas Cowboys	Jets	NYJ -3	31-10, NYJ
Carolina Panthers	New York Giants	Panthers	CAR -4	31-20, CAR
Tennessee Titans	New England Patriots	Patriots	NE -12.5	30-7, NE
Buffalo Bills	Washington Redskins	Bills	Ev	24-21, BUF
Kansas City Chiefs	Baltimore Ravens	Chiefs	KC -7	14-10, KC
Houston Texans	Indianapolis Colts	Texans	N/A	17-14, IND
Atlanta Falcons	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jaguars	JAC -3	28-10, JAC
Chicago Bears	Minnesota Vikings	Vikings	MIN -4.5	24-17, MIN
Green Bay Packers	Oakland Raiders	Packers	GB -2.5	28-24, GB
Cleveland Browns	Seattle Seahawks	Seahawks	SEA -14	33-12, SEA
Cincinnati Bengals	San Francisco 49ers	Bengals	CIN -4	21-10, CIN
Miami Dolphins	San Diego Chargers	Dolphins	Ev	14-7, MIA
Denver Broncos	Pittsburgh Steelers	Steelers	PIT -6.5	31-21, PIT
Arizona Cardinals	Philadelphia Eagles	Cardinals	ARI -3.5	28-19, ARI
Detroit Lions	New Orleans Saints	Saints	N/A	24-20, NO

Highest-Projected Week 15 Scorers

Seattle Seahawks (33 points)

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

The Seattle Seahawks proved they could survive—and, in fact, thrive—without tight end Jimmy Graham or running back Marshawn Lynch this season, scoring 30 or more points in their last three games. 

But can the team continue to find success with a backfield absent Lynch and rookie backup Thomas Rawls?

Rawls has done everything he needed to step into the void that Lynch's absence created. In his last four starts, he has rushed for 435 yards and three touchdowns, adding another receiving touchdown. 

But that all came to a halt Sunday against Baltimore, when Rawls left the game with an ankle injury. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport confirmed that Rawls broke his ankle and will miss the rest of the season: 

However, there is still hope for the Seahawks as they make their late-season playoff push, and it lies almost entirely on the shoulders of Russell Wilson.

Rawls left the game in the middle of the first quarter, with Seattle scoreless. On the very next play, Wilson would connect with receiver Tyler Lockett through the air for an eight-yard touchdown pass. 

In fact, Wilson would five total touchdowns in the game, all without the benefit of a strong run game. The Seahawks used a committee approach to their backfield, giving DuJuan Harris the majority of carries (18), with Derrick Coleman, Fred Jackson, Wilson and Tarvaris Jackson taking on the rest of the load. 

It is possible that Lynch will return soon; Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reported on Dec. 11 that he's rehabbing with the team. 

But this is Wilson's time to prove that he can get it done relying mainly on his arm. 

A point total of 33 may seem a high projection for a team missing any stars in its backfield, but that didn't stop Seattle in Week 14. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (31 points)

The Pittsburgh Steelers roared past the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday to the tune of 33-20, and that performance, combined with Bengals quarterback's Andy Dalton's thumb injury, could signify a shift in playoff fortunes in the AFC.

Amazingly, despite their 8-5 record and excellent play of late, the Steelers are not a lock to make the playoffs.

But with the Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on the schedule, Pittsburgh has a good shot of winning out and finishing 11-5.

And if the Steelers do make the playoffs, no team would want to go up against Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and the rest of this offense, as Steve Palazzolo noted:

Pittsburgh is fifth in the league in scoring, averaging 26.5 prior to Week 14. But incredibly, Roethlisberger did not even have to throw a touchdown pass for the Steelers to rack up 33 points against Cincinnati in Week 14.

Running back DeAngelo Williams had two touchdowns, while William Gay returned an interception for a touchdown. And kicker Chris Boswell got in on the fun, adding 15 points on four field goals and three extra points.

Pittsburgh has scored 30 points in five straight games, a franchise record according to ESPN.com. 

Even though the Steelers go up against the Broncos defense in Week 15, the Oakland Raiders proved in Week 14 that perhaps that doesn't mean as much as it used to, beating Denver, 15-12. With the Steelers getting hot at the right time, triumphing over Denver would go a long way toward their playoff goal. 

New York Jets (31 points)

The Jets have featured one of the league's best defenses, allowing 323.8 yards per game prior to Week 14.

But now they might be putting together an offense to match.

Tennessee's defense is not stout, but it's by no means poor. And the Jets came in and scored 30 points to the Titans' eight, with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing three touchdowns. Brandon Marshall came alive with 125 yards on six receptions, averaging a whopping 20.8 yards per catch. 

The Jets scored on five of their first six possessions.

Chris Ivory provided plenty of run support, rushing for 101 yards on 22 carries.  

"This is what we wanted," said Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, via the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). "It was about time for us to play a complete football game."

The Dallas Cowboys, who put up just seven points against the Green Bay Packers in Week 14, aren't the best candidates to slow the Jets in Week 15. This new high-scoring Jets offense could continue into next week but will face tough matchups against the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills. 

NFL odds via Odds Shark and current as of Dec. 14.